Hunter Simmons, a Houston defense attorney, faces serious charges after being caught attempting to smuggle synthetic drug-laced papers to a jailed client. Authorities discovered the scheme during a separate human trafficking investigation.
After being found trying to smuggle drug-laced documents into a jail, 39-year-old Houston defense lawyer Hunter Simmons was arrested and charged with carrying a restricted substance and engaging in organized criminal conduct in a correctional facility. Simmons can be sentenced to two to twenty years in jail if found guilty.
Simmons was bound by authorities to blankets laced with synthetic marijuana that were meant for a prisoner. The plan was uncovered by the Harris County Sheriff's Office while looking into a separate human trafficking investigation.
Joshua Palmer, 22, and Tanisha Butler, 40, were also taken into custody and are charged with the same offenses. During their Wednesday court hearings, Butler, the program director for the Texas-based nonprofit organization Every Child Counts, and Simmons were each given a $75,000 bond. Palmer is scheduled to appear in PC Court later.
After 12 years of practicing law and running his firm, Simmons is now facing serious legal repercussions. According to the Harris County Sheriff's Office, the investigation is still ongoing, and more charges could be brought.
The Texas Commission on Jail Standards is escalating its enforcement against Harris County Jail, requesting the Texas Attorney General’s intervention. With persistent overcrowding, understaffing, and inmate deaths, the jail remains out of compliance, raising concerns about safety and oversight.
Thousands of Houston ISD students skipped school as parents and students protested against Superintendent Mike Miles and the state-appointed board of managers. The protest, organized by Community Voices for Public Education, opposed district reforms that critics say hurt students and teachers.
According to the CDC, Texas is experiencing a significant rise in flu cases, with hospitals reporting increased admissions and flu test positivity rates nearing 30%. Experts warn that lower vaccination rates could worsen the severity of this year’s flu season.